Page 88 of Strictly the Worst

“He’s doing good. I’m supervising him,” Zoe says and I have to cough to hide my laugh. Carmichael’s kid is clever. She has balls.

“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Your approval is appreciated.”

Zoe grins at me. “So, have you been to London?”

I spend the next thirty minutes trying to juggle sanding with a grade A interrogation from Carmichael’s kid. Tessa sends over a few looks but I just shrug.

It’s fine. Zoe’s chatty, that’s all. I can work with chatty. It’s silence I don’t like.

We break for lunch. I order some takeout to be delivered, just bagels because we don’t have a lot of time, and there’s still a lot of floor to cover. Tessa wants the sanding finished by tonight, then she’ll wash everything down and varnish tomorrow.

“That bagel was good,” Zoe says, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “You can come over any time.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Any time you want to supervise, just shout.”

Zoe jumps up. “And now I have to shower and get ready for the movie. Keep working hard, guys.”

She runs to the bathroom and Tessa looks at me. “Have we put you off yet?”

“Nope.” I bite off a mouthful of bagel. “Am I boring you yet?”

“No.” There’s a smile playing on her lips. “I think you’re gonna have to try harder.”

“I can go hard. Really hard. I’ll bore the fucking tits off you.”

Tessa’s eyes widen. “Linc! Zoe can hear.”

But then the shower turns on.

“No she can’t. So how am I doing?” I ask her. “Am I domesticated enough yet?”

She looks at me carefully. “You’ve been a godsend. But you must be bored to death.”

“I like boring,” I tell her. “I love it.”

And it’s the truth. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good time. Fully clothed, at least. Truth is, I wasn’t looking forward to this. I was resigned to it, more than anything.

A chance to prove to this woman that I can be the kind of man who deserves her.

I can remember when my brother Myles started dating his now wife. He told me that his favorite way of spending time was watching a movie with her. I’d laughed at him. Probably called him boring.

But there’s nothing I want more than to sit with her snuggled up against me watching a movie. I’m sick of being on a fucking plane. I’m tired of not having someone to come home to.

I want to come home knowing she’s waiting for me.

Those days in Exuma spoiled everything else for me. And today has just confirmed it.

I’m ready to settle down.

“What are you thinking?” Tessa asks, her voice soft as Zoe starts to sing in the shower.

“I was wondering how long an anime movie lasts,” I tell her. “And whether you want me to bore you from behind or in the missionary position.”

I’m kidding, but the way her mouth drops open is worth it.

“MOM!” Zoe’s scream cuts through the small house.

Her head snaps up at the same time as I shoot to my feet, Zoe’s scream sending a rush of panic through me.

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